Cable sealing device, cable termination and attaching device

ABSTRACT

A cable sealing device including an attaching part securable to the cable; a fixation part adapted to be mountable on the attaching part; and a sealing part. The attaching part includes outer locking faces. The fixation part has inner abutment faces adapted to co-operate with the outer locking faces to axially and rotationally lock the fixation part relative to the attaching part. The sealing part includes an inner seal and an outer seal. The sealing part also includes a second securing arrangement that is configured to engage a first securing arrangement of the fixation part to axially and rotationally lock the sealing part to the fixation part.

This application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 14/543,181, filed 17Nov. 2014, which is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/575,899, filed 27Jul. 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,917,967, which is a National StageApplication of PCT/EP2011/050606, filed 18 Jan. 2011, which claimsbenefit of Ser. No. 10/000,930.7, filed 29 Jan. 2010 in Europe and whichapplications are incorporated herein by reference. To the extentappropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosedapplications.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a cable sealing device for sealing apassage of a cable, to a cable termination provided with the cablesealing device and to an attaching device securable to a cable forsupporting an installing of the cable sealing device on the cable.

A cable sealing device is e.g. known from WO 2007/014385 A2, which findsparticular application in the field of telecommunication technology towhich the present invention preferably relates.

The known cable sealing device provides a sealing part having apassageway through which a cable is guidable, wherein said passagewayaccommodates an inner seal for sealing the passage of the cable. Thesealing part further comprises an outer thread engagement forcooperating with an internal thread engagement provided in an openingformed in a cable sealing and retaining device to which the cablesealing device is securable. This engagement provides an outer seal forthe sealing part. The cable sealing device has a fixation part formed bya grip means received in the passageway of the sealing part.Particularly, the grip means abuts against an inner longitudinal surfaceprovided with the sealing part to retain the sealing part inlongitudinal, i.e. in axial direction thereof. The grip means has anaperture through which the cable axially extends, wherein the aperturehas such a size that the grip means is allowed to grip and, thereby, tobe retained on the cable. The grip means is sandwiched in the passagewayby the axial inner surface of the sealing part and the inner seal. Thecable sealing device has a washer arranged on the other side of theinner seal to prevent wear or damage of the inner seal by a bolt portionscrewed into the passageway and compressing the inner seal to beradially deformed, thereby achieving the sealing performance. The cablesealing device is substantially secured to the cable by the pressingforce exerted by the grip means and further optionally by the inner sealin its compressed state on the cable.

The cable sealing device cannot reliably prevent, for instance, in anassembled state to a mounting like a cable sealing and retaining device,a twist and/or an axial displacement between the cable and the cablesealing device when a force, e.g. a pulling force acting on the cable inits longitudinal direction is larger than the retaining force of thegrip means. Thus, by the axial displacement of the cable with respect tothe cable sealing, a damage of the outer cable jacket can arise due topossible sharp-edged parts of the grip means press-fitted on the cable,wherein, for instance, an optical fibre element guided by the cable isalso subjected to the risk of being damaged.

Moreover, in case of securing the cable sealing device to a commonlyknown cable having an attaching part connectable to a connector andproviding strain relief as e.g. described in WO 2007/039585 A1, thecable sealing device can only be mounted on the cable adjacent to theattaching part, wherein, in a mounted state of the cable sealing deviceto the cable sealing and retaining device, at least the attaching partprojecting from a longitudinal end side of the cable jacket extends intoan accommodating space provided inside the cable sealing and retainingdevice, thereby reducing the accommodating space required for performingoperations on said cable or for accommodating one or more connectorsconnected to the attaching part of one or more connectorizable cables,respectively. Further, an assembling of the cable sealing device on thecable is complicated due to the plurality of parts, their small shapeand the respective effort required for mounting the grip means and theremaining parts on the cable.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cablesealing device simply mountable on a cable providing an attaching partand reliably securable on the cable in its circumferential andlongitudinal directions.

The above object is solved by a cable sealing device. The inventivecable sealing device is based on a principle that, for securing thecable sealing device to a cable having a commonly known attaching part,formations, particularly faces already provided with the attaching partare employed as a mounting area for the cable sealing device.Specifically, the faces are used for forming a positive locking betweenthe attaching part and the cable sealing device. Furthermore, the cableon which the inventive cable sealing device is mountable, can be formedof a coax cable, a copper cable, an optical fibre cable and the like, ingeneral a cable used preferably in telecommunications technology andproviding an attaching part with formations usable as positive lockingfaces.

Particularly, the inventive cable sealing device comprises a sealingpart providing a passageway with an inner seal through which the cableis sealingly guidable, and an outer seal arranged on an outercircumference of the sealing part. The inner seal seals the passage ofthe cable through the sealing part, and the outer seal is provided forsealing an area between an outer circumference of the cable sealingdevice and a mounting such as a cable sealing and retaining device towhich the cable sealing device is preferably attachable. The body of thesealing part, which provides the passageway and which supports the innerseal and the outer seal, is preferably formed by injection moulding of aplastic material. More preferably, the body is formed of a singleelement. Alternatively, the body of the sealing part may be preferablyformed of two elements connectable to each other from a radial outerside of the sealing part with respect to its passageway running inparallel with the longitudinal axis of the sealing part. Said twoelements may be preferably secured to each other at least by the outerseal preferably formed of a commonly known sealing material as rubber,gel and the like and further preferably having an O-ring shape with aninner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the sealing part toapply a pressing force to a radial inner side of the outer seal in itsmounted state on the sealing part. Alternatively or in addition thereto,the two elements forming the body may be preferably provided withpositive locking means providing a positive locking in longitudinaldirection of the sealing part and in a direction transverse thereto.Thereby, the sealing part is radially mountable on the cable.

Moreover, the cable sealing device comprises a fixation part adapted tobe mountable on the attaching part, which is securable to the cable andwhich provides accessible outer positive locking faces extending incircumferential and longitudinal direction of the cable, wherein thefixation part provides inner circumferential and axial abutment facesadapted to co-operate with the outer positive locking faces so as toprovide therebetween a positive locking in circumferential andlongitudinal direction. In general, an axial direction relates to adirection running in parallel with the extension direction of thepassageway formed by the sealing part, wherein said direction runs alsoin parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cable guidable by thesealing part. The circumferential direction relates to a directionrunning around the longitudinal direction. The positive locking face andthe abutment surface refers to a surface shape capable of compensatingpressing forces caused for instance by abutment under a pressing forceof two correspondingly shaped surfaces. The positive locking face andthe abutment surface, respectively, may be preferably formed of a flatsurface, a concave surface or a convex surface, wherein each of saidsurface shapes may co-operate with similar or different surface shapesas long as a positive locking can be obtained therebetween in at leastlongitudinal or circumferential direction. For instance, the positivelocking face and the associated abutment surface may be formed of a flatsurface. Alternatively, the positive locking face may be formed of aconvex surface, wherein the corresponding abutment surface may have aconcave shape. Further alternatively, the positive locking face may beformed of a concave surface, wherein the corresponding abutment surfacemay have a convex shape. Further corresponding surface shapes arefeasible as long as said corresponding surfaces provide a positivelocking in at least one direction. Accordingly, the positive lockingbetween the fixation part and the attaching part in longitudinaldirection is achieved by at least two surfaces adapted to abut againsteach other in longitudinal direction, one surface is provided with thefixation part and the other surface is formed with the attaching part.Moreover, the positive locking acting therebetween in circumferentialdirection is obtained by at least two additional surfaces adapted toabut against each other in circumferential direction, wherein the oneadditional surface is provided with the fixation part and the otheradditional surface is formed with the attaching part.

For exemplary explaining a structure of an attaching part providingpositive locking faces to which the fixation part is preferablymountable, a shape of a commonly known attaching part as described in WO2007/039585 A1 is used. Particularly, the attaching part has a middlesection of a polygonal cross-sectional shape providing a plurality offlat surfaces at an outer circumference of the attaching part, whereinsaid flat surfaces are sandwiched in longitudinal direction of theattaching part by flanges protruding said flat surfaces transverse tosaid longitudinal direction, i.e in radial direction. In general, anattaching part commonly known in the technical field oftelecommunications technology has in a majority of cases a sectionproviding a circumferential groove or a plurality of grooves arrangedsuccessively with a distance therebetween in circumferential directionof the attaching part. The bottom of the groove section may then formthe positive locking face for providing a positive locking incircumferential direction of the attaching part by means of abutmentthere against, wherein the wall sections defining the groove inlongitudinal direction thereof may form the positive locking facesproviding a positive locking in longitudinal direction by abutting thereagainst. As described above, the surfaces may preferably have anothershape than a flat shape. Alternatively or in addition thereto, theattaching part may be preferably provided with at least one pin-likeprotrusion projecting from an outer circumference or with at least onepin-like receiving hole formed in the outer circumference, wherein thefixation part may be provided with an associated pin-like receiving holeor a pin-like protrusion, accordingly.

Additionally, the fixation part has first securing means for cooperatingwith second securing means provided with the sealing part to secure thesealing part in circumferential and longitudinal direction against thefixation part. Preferably, the sealing part is releasably securableagainst the fixation part. Moreover, the fixation part is preferablyformed by injection moulding of a plastic material as the sealing part.More preferably, the fixation part is formed of a single element.Alternatively, the fixation part may be preferably formed of two partsconnectable to each other from a radial direction and securablepreferably by latching means or other engagement means capable ofsecuring two parts to each other.

Due to the above configuration of the cable sealing device, the partsprovided for the cable sealing device can be simply shaped, preferablywith a simply handleable size in view of the parts provided with theknown cable sealing device to be securable together in a simple way.Furthermore, the cable sealing device can be reliably secured to thecable in circumferential and longitudinal direction thereof without therisk of loosening the original secured position on the cable, therebypreventing a possible damage of the cable and a signal transmittingelement guidable therein.

Preferred embodiments of the inventive cable sealing device are subjectto the dependent claims.

In one preferred embodiment, the fixation part provides additionalpositive locking means on an outer circumference and/or on alongitudinal end section freely accessible from a radial outer side.Particularly, the fixation part may be preferably arranged directlyadjacent to the sealing part in the assembled state thereof and, furtherpreferable, abuts against the sealing part in longitudinal direction,wherein the fixation part provides at least one freely accessiblelongitudinal end section on a side on which the sealing part is notarranged. Alternatively or in addition thereto, the fixation part maypreferably provide a freely accessible longitudinal end section on theside at which the sealing part is arranged. Specifically, a gap portionmay be preferably provided between the fixation part and the sealingpart in circumferential direction thereof, wherein said gap portion maybe formed of a ring segment partially extending in circumferentialdirection or may be formed continuously in circumferential direction.Alternatively or in addition thereto, the fixation part may provide aportion with an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of anadjacent portion of the sealing part. In other words, the fixation partmay provide a portion projecting in radial direction from an outercircumference of said adjacent portion of the sealing part when viewedin longitudinal direction thereof. For those cases, the longitudinal endsections are freely accessible from the radial outer side of thefixation part and may be used for co-operating with means of a mountingto which the cable sealing device is mountable to secure the fixationpart to the mounting at least in longitudinal direction of the cable.

Further preferable, the additional positive locking means on the outercircumference of the fixation part is formed of a thread engagement or abayonet fitting, which allow fast and reliable securing of the cablesealing device to and releasing from the associated mounting.Furthermore, in the secured state of the cable sealing device againstthe mounting, the fixation provides tension relief in longitudinaldirection of the cable. The tension relief may be preferably influencedfor the thread engagement by the number of windings selected therefor.Accordingly, the higher the number of windings, the higher the tensionrelief performance.

Moreover, the bayonet fitting may be preferably a commonly known onewith a male side with one or more pins and a female receptor withmatching L-slots and one or more springs to keep the bayonet fittingsecured together. Particularly, the fixation part provides the pin orthe female receptor, wherein the mounting to which the cable sealingdevice may be secured has the associated female receptor or pin,respectively. The fixation part is securable to the mounting in a knownmanner by aligning the pin and the slot and pushing them together. Oncethe pins reach the bottom of the slot, the fixation part is rotated orthe fixation part and the mounting are rotated with respect to eachother in opposite directions to guide the pin across the bottom of theslot. The spring then holds the pin in position to prevent it frombacking out. To disconnect, the fixation part and the mounting arepushed together to overcome the spring whilst twisting slightly toreverse the securing turn.

Preferably, the sealing part provides a flange portion, preferably acircumferential flange portion between the outer seal and the rear endside of the sealing part, wherein said flange portion forms the radialouter part of the sealing part and provides a longitudinal abutmentsurface for abutting against a mounting in a secured state of the cablesealing device. In other words, the cable sealing device can be adaptedto be secured to the mounting by means of the thread engagement or thebayonet fitting so as to tightly abutting the flange portion against themounting. Further preferably, an additional seal can be provided betweenthe outer seal and the flange portion for sealing the abutment of theflange portion against the mounting and for further improving thesealing performance of the cable sealing device.

Hence, the cable sealing device may be secured to the cable and to themounting only by means of the fixation part. Thereby, a securing of thecable sealing device guiding the cable against the mounting may beconductable in a dissembled state or assembled state of the cablesealing device, wherein the dissembled state refers to a state in whichthe sealing part is released from the fixation part, and wherein theassembled state is a state in which the fixation part and the sealingpart are secured to each other. Thus, a degree of freedom concerningpossible handlings of the cable sealing device, particularly of eachpart thereof is increased. For instance, the sealing part may be furtherhandleable while the fixation part is already secured against themounting.

Further, as the attaching part forms part of the mounting area for thecable sealing device, an accommodating space of a cable sealing andretaining device, to which the cable sealing device is securable, can besaved, since the attaching part will not further project into said spacein the secured state of the cable sealing device against the cablesealing and retaining device. Thus, further space for performingoperations on the cable inside the cable sealing and retaining devicecan be provided.

In addition, the features of the cable sealing device, i.e. the securingfeature and the sealing feature may be clearly related to a single partof the cable sealing device. Particularly, the fixation part may bepreferably used only for the securing feature, that is for securing thecable sealing device to the cable and for securing the cable sealingdevice to the cable sealing and retaining device. Whereas the sealingpart may be preferably provided merely for the sealing feature bysealing the passage of the cable and by sealing the securing of thecable sealing device against the cable sealing and retaining device.Hence, in case one of the features is considered defective, that is incase one of the fixation part and the sealing part is damaged, only thedamaged part needs to be replaced.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the additional positivelocking means at the longitudinal free end section of the fixation partmay be preferably formed of a protrusion longitudinally projecting fromthe longitudinal end section and providing a groove section extending incircumferential direction of the fixation part and forming abutmentfaces in longitudinal direction of the fixation part accessible from theradial outer side. The groove section may be preferably straight formedin circumferential direction or convex shaped forming a curvature inradial outer direction. The groove section may preferably provide a slotwith an end in circumferential direction to restrict an insertion depthalong said circumferential direction of an associated part insertabletherein. Alternatively, the groove section may preferably form a slitwith open ends in circumferential direction. More preferably, at leasttwo protrusions are formed at the longitudinal free end section atopposing sides with respect to the radial direction of the fixationpart.

The additional positive locking means at the longitudinal free endsection may preferably co-operate with a further part insertable intothe groove section so as to provide a positive locking in longitudinaldirection of the fixation part. According thereto, tension relief inlongitudinal direction of the cable may be obtained by connection of theassociated part thereto, specifically when the additional positivelocking means on the outer circumference are not provided or not used.

According to a preferred alternative embodiment, the positive lockingmeans at the longitudinal free end side may be preferably provided withthe attaching part having preferably a configuration as described above.Particularly, in a secured state of the cable sealing device on thecable, a longitudinal end surface side of the attaching part at a frontside of the fixation part is exposed at least in longitudinal directionand comprises positive locking means having a configuration as describedabove, wherein said positive locking means project from the longitudinalfree end side of the attaching part in longitudinal direction and arepreferably arranged at a radial end section of the attaching part.Further preferable, the attaching part comprises at least two positivelocking means at opposing radial sides on the longitudinal free end sideof the attaching part, wherein the attaching part additionally has at aradial inner side between the positive locking means a connectionportion for securing a connector thereto. Thus, the connector secured tothe attaching part will be preferably disposed between the positivelocking means and will extend in parallel thereto from said attachingpart.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the fixation part isC-shaped to be radially mountable on the attaching part. Thereby, anassembling of the cable sealing device to the cable can be simplified asthe fixation part does not need to be mounted from a longitudinal endside of the attaching part by moving the fixation part from saidlongitudinal end side on the positive locking faces. Therefore, thefixation part can be mounted on an attaching part providing acircumferential groove or a pin-like protrusion as described above.Thereby, the fixation part can be reliably secured in longitudinaldirection of the attaching part.

Further preferable, the sealing part comprises a cavity for the innerseal, wherein the cavity is opened to a front side of the sealing partfacing the fixation part and to a radial side facing the passageway. Inother words, the cavity provides an abutment surface for the inner sealin radial outer side direction and a further abutment surface for theinner seal in a longitudinal direction pointing away from the fixationpart. According thereto, the cavity receives the inner seal from thefront side of the sealing part when assembling the body of the sealingpart with the inner seal. Thus, the body of the sealing part and theinner seal may be separately mountable on and releasable from the cable.Hence, in case of damage of either the inner seal or the body of thesealing part, only the damaged element needs to be replaced.

In order to close the cavity in circumferential direction, a ring partis arranged between the C-shaped fixation part and the inner seal.Thereby, an additional circumferential extending abutment surface forthe inner seal on the front side of the sealing part can be provided.The ring part may be preferably formed by injection moulding of aplastic material.

More preferably, the inner seal has an outer diameter larger than aninner diameter of the cavity. Accordingly, in the secured state of thecable sealing device on the cable, the inner seal may perform a pressurein radial direction onto the cable and against the sealing part, wherebythe sealing material of the inner seal may be urged to flow inlongitudinal direction. Said flow is prevented by the abutment surfacesprovided in longitudinal direction by the cavity and the ring part,wherein the pressure of the inner seal in radial direction can bemaintained. Hence, the sealing part may be securable on the cableadditionally by the inner seal. Further, a sealing performance of thecable sealing device, i.e. the sealing between the inner seal and thecable and also the sealing between the inner seal and the sealing partcan be further increased, since tolerances between the inner seal andthe cable may be compensated. By simply varying the shape of the innerseal, that is, by providing a respective diameter for the inner seal,the sealing can be influenced appropriately. In comparison, the knowncable sealing device provides a sealing performance depending on acompressive force acting in longitudinal direction on the inner seal,wherein said compressive force is obtained by screwing the bolt portioninto the sealing part to press against the inner seal. However, saidcompressive may decrease when the bolt portion turns back in looseningdirection due to vibration or other influences, wherein an insufficientsealing performance may be achieved.

Further preferable, the inner seal is wrap-around shaped and may bepreferably formed of a sealing material such as gel, rubber, mastic andthe like. Due to said wrap-around shape, the inner seal can be mountedfrom a radial outer side on the cable. Alternatively, the inner seal ispreferably formed of an O-ring to be mounted on the cable from alongitudinal cable end side. In this context, the outer seal arranged onthe outer circumference of the sealing part is preferably formed of ashape and material like the inner seal. Alternatively, the inner sealand the outer seal may preferably differ in shape, sealing material andnumber in case of need.

In a further preferred embodiment, the outer seal is received andsupported by a circumferential groove formed on an outer circumferenceof the sealing part. The outer seal can be reliably retained in saidgroove by mounting the cable sealing device to a mounting.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first securing meansdefines circumferentially an opening formed by the C-shape, wherein thesecond securing means has a hammer-head shape which projects the openingin circumferential direction to provide a positive locking between thefixation part and the sealing part in longitudinal direction of thecable. Due to the C-shape, the opening is formed at an outercircumference of the fixation part and extends in circumferentialdirection. The first securing means may preferably be placed at aposition directly adjacent in circumferential direction to the openingor further preferable inside the opening, thereby forming acircumferential boundary for the opening. Further preferably, the firstsecuring means borders the opening at both circumferential sidesthereof. The first securing means may be preferably formed of abar-shaped protrusion projecting in radial inner direction from an innercircumference of the C-shaped fixation part, wherein an end face of thebar-shaped protrusion directing radially toward an outside of theopening forms preferably with the outer circumference of the fixationpart interrupted by the opening a common outer circumferential surface.Accordingly, the end face may denote a continuation of said outercircumference by forming the end face with a distance or radius withrespect to the axis of the fixation part similar to a distance or radiusof the outer circumference in regard of said axis. Alternatively, theend face is preferably formed with a smaller radius or has a smallerdistance to said axis to be provided at a radial shorter distance than acircumferential edge forming part of the outer circumference of thefixation part.

The sealing part provides a longitudinal end surface from which thehammer-head shaped second securing means projects in longitudinaldirection to form a longitudinal free end portion of the sealing part,wherein the head portion constitutes in longitudinal direction the frontend portion of the sealing part which is connected to the longitudinalend surface via a neck portion. Preferably, the head portion projectsthe opening in circumferential direction. Further, the hammer-headshaped second securing means is preferably elastically movable in radialdirection of the sealing part. More preferable, the second securingmeans comprises on its radial outer surface an incision extending incircumferential direction and being arranged in a surface plane of thelongitudinal end surface of the sealing part. In other words, theincision providing a material portion with a smaller thickness isarranged at the longitudinal end side of the neck portion connected tothe sealing part. Thereby, the second securing means may be slidableover the first securing means to engage the first securing means from afront side of the fixation part, which is the side facing away from thesealing part. Thus, the positive locking between the fixation part andthe sealing part may be preferably formed by abutment of thelongitudinal end face of the head portion facing the sealing partagainst a longitudinal end face of the first securing means directing tothe front side of the fixation part.

Further preferably, the fixation part provides adjacently to the firstsecuring means, abutment faces defining in circumferential direction areceiving portion for the head portion and/or the neck portion of thehammer-head shaped second securing means, wherein the hammer-head and/orthe neck is adapted to fit into the receiving portion in circumferentialdirection. Particularly, the opening defined by the first securing meansin circumferential direction preferably forms the receiving portion intowhich the neck is adapted to fit. The neck has a circumferential widthequal or smaller than the circumferential width of the opening, whereincircumferential end faces of the neck will abut against circumferentialend faces, which defines the opening, in the received state of the neckand at least when a rotational force is applied to the sealing part. Dueto said preferred configuration, the sealing part may be secured to thefixation part in circumferential direction by means of positive locking.Alternatively or in addition thereto, the first securing means areformed in longitudinal direction of the fixation part at a positionbeing spaced from the front surface side of the fixation part by apredetermined distance, wherein a section provided between said frontsurface side and the first securing means forms an additional receivingportion for the head of the second securing means. Preferably, the firstsecuring means are formed in a center plane of the fixation part withrespect to its longitudinal extension. Moreover, the hammer-head of thesecond securing means has preferably a circumferential width equal orsmaller than a circumferential width of the additional receiving portioninto which the hammer-head is fittable. Thereby, the second securingmeans may abut against the fixation part in circumferential directionwith circumferential end faces of the neck and/or of the hammer-head,further improving the positive locking in circumferential direction.

In a further preferred embodiment, at least the fixation part and thering part or the sealing part and the ring part provide opposing twistpreventing means adapted to co-operate with each other so as to preventa twist therebetween. A further circumferential securing between therespective parts can be obtained, which further improves the securing ofthe sealing part against the fixation part.

Further preferable, one of the fixation part and the ring part comprisesat least one longitudinal protrusion projecting in longitudinaldirection and the other one thereof comprises at least one notch forreceiving the at least one protrusion so as to provide therebetween apositive locking in circumferential direction. Further, the ring partcomprises at least one circumferential projection protruding radiallyfrom a circumference of the ring part, and the sealing part provides atleast one receptacle for receiving the at least one circumferentialprojection so as to provide therebetween a positive locking incircumferential direction. Accordingly, the securing of the sealing partin radial and circumferential direction against the fixation part isfurther improved by means of the ring part connected on the one hand tothe sealing part and further to the fixation part.

In a further preferred embodiment, the sealing part provides a breakagezone extending in longitudinal direction of the sealing part. Thebreakage zone is preferably formed of an incision extending furtherpreferable over the entire longitudinal length of the sealing part. Theincision denotes a weakening line for the material of the sealing partby which the sealing part can be broken with less force to release thesealing part from the cable. More preferably, the sealing part has acavity in an area intersecting with the breakage zone to provide aworking point for an auxiliary means such as e.g. a lever to break openthe sealing part with less effort.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the sealing part providesat a rear end a polygonal shaped end portion, wherein said polygonalshaped end portion comprises two parallel outer surfaces accessible froman outer side. Preferably, the polygonal shaped end portion iscross-sectionally U-shaped with at two least parallel flat outersurfaces which provide working surfaces for supporting the securing ofthe sealing part against a mounting in a mounted state of the cablesealing device thereto. For instance, clamping elements may bepreferably attached to said working surfaces from a radial outer side tosecure the cable sealing device in longitudinal direction against themounting. Furthermore, said working surfaces may preferably provide abolt portion for co-operating with a tool kit attachable on said workingsurfaces so as to support securing of the cable sealing device to themounting.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a cabletermination is provided which comprises a cable secured to an attachingpart providing accessible outer positive locking faces extending incircumferential and longitudinal direction of the cable, and a cablesealing device having a preferred configuration as described above. Thecable termination provides a unit which can be simply assembled to amounting such as a cable sealing and retaining device and which can bealso simply released therefrom. Further, in case of damage of one ormore parts, only the defective parts need to be replaced.

In a further aspect of the present invention, an attaching device isprovided which comprises an attaching part securable to a cable andproviding outer positive locking faces extending in circumferential andlongitudinal direction of the cable. The attaching device comprises afixation part providing inner circumferential and axial abutment facesadapted to co-operate with the outer positive locking faces so as toprovide therebetween a positive locking in circumferential andlongitudinal direction, wherein the fixation part provides positivelocking means on an outer circumference and/or on a longitudinal endsection freely accessible from a radial outer side. The attaching deviceprovides simple means for securing preferably a cable to a mountingwhich does not necessarily require a sealing between the mounting andthe cable. Furthermore, the attaching device can be combined with theabove-described cable sealing device in case the cable, to which thecable sealing device shall be mounted, does not be provided with arespective attaching part. Accordingly, by means of the attachingdevice, any cable not provided with an attaching part providingaccessible outer positive locking faces can be secured directly to acable sealing and/or retaining device.

In a preferred embodiment, the fixation part is C-shaped to be radiallymountable on the attaching part. Thereby, a degree of freedom forhandling the cable to which the attaching device is securable can beincreased. Particularly, the cable can already be provided with aconnector after securing the attaching part to the cable and, inaddition, the connectorized cable can be connected to anotherconnectorized cable before the fixation part is attached. Hence, thefixation part may be installed at any stage later on, for instance whenthe cable is to be attached to a mounting, either in a connected stateor disconnected state. Furthermore, additional advantages as describedabove with respect to a C-shaped fixation part of the cable sealingdevice may be achievable.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the attaching devicecomprises a sealing part which provides a passageway with an inner sealthrough which the cable is sealingly guidable and an outer seal arrangedon an outer circumference of the sealing part. Moreover, the fixationpart has first securing means for co-operating with second securingmeans provided with the sealing part to secure the sealing part incircumferential and/or longitudinal direction against the fixation part.According thereto, the cable can be sealingly secured to the mounting incase of need, wherein the sealing part denoting a separate part can besimply mounted on the cable and secured to the fixation part.Furthermore, due to the securing of the sealing against the fixationpart, a displacement therebetween and also between the sealing part andthe cable can be prevented, whereby a sealing performance is improved.

In further preferred embodiments, the fixation part, the attaching partand the sealing part of the attaching device may adopt any possiblepreferred shape as further described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in further detail byreferring to preferred embodiments depicted in the accompanyingdrawings. In these drawings:

FIGS. 1A-1D show a perspective side view of a cable sealing deviceaccording to one embodiment in a disassembled and an assembled state;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a perspective side view of a cable sealing andretaining device according to one embodiment in a disassembled andassembled state with the cable sealing device as shown in FIG. 1D;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the cable sealing and retainingdevice with the cable sealing device as shown in FIG. 2B;

FIGS. 4A-4D show a perspective side view of a cable sealing andretaining device according to another embodiment in a disassembled andassembled state with the cable sealing device as shown in FIG. 1D;

FIGS. 5A-5E show a perspective side view of a cable sealing andretaining device according to a further embodiment in a disassembled andassembled state with two cable sealing devices;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the housing shown in FIG. 5E;

FIGS. 7A-7C show a perspective side view of a fixation part of a cablesealing device provided with the cable sealing and retaining deviceshown in FIGS. 5A-5E, in a pre-installed manner on a cable without andwith a sealing part accommodating a ring part;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective side view of a cable connection between twocable sealing devices according to a further embodiment usable for acable sealing and retaining device as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective side view of a cable sealing and retainingdevice according to a further embodiment in a disassembled with twocable sealing devices according to a further embodiment connected toeach other; and

FIG. 10 shows a perspective side view of a cable sealing deviceaccording to another embodiment in an assembled state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A to 1D show a perspective side view of a connectorized cable 1to which the cable sealing device 10 according to an embodiment isattached. Particularly, FIG. 1A shows the connectorized cable 1 whichcomprises a cable 2 fixed to a connector 7 by an attaching part 4. Theconnection of the cable 2 to the connector 7 via the attachment memberor attaching part 4 is performed as known e.g. from WO 2007/039585 A1.Accordingly, the attaching part 4 made of a metal component comprises aconnection portion (not shown) on which strain relief elements (notshown) provided with the cable 2 are attached and secured by means of ametal crimp (not shown). A heat shrink tube 3 is provided on the metalcrimp and the cable 2 to seal the connection therebetween. The attachingportion 4 comprises outside the cable 2 two ring-shaped flanges 6, eachproviding surfaces directing in longitudinal direction, wherein theinner surfaces sandwich outer circumferential flat surfaces 5 formed bya polygonal shaped body (here a square) and connected to each other incircumferential direction by tapered edges. The surfaces of the flanges6 and the outer circumferential flat surfaces 5 form positive lockingfaces. The heat shrink tube 3 ends at one surface side of the flange 6arranged in longitudinal direction of the cable 2 between the body 5 andthe connection portion of the attaching part 4. In this context, anaxial direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the cable2, and a radial direction refers to a direction running transversethereto. A circumferential direction relates to a direction runningaround the longitudinal direction. The flange 6 provided between theheat shrink tube 3 and the outer circumferential flat surface 5 isdisc-shaped and has an outer diameter equal or smaller than an outerdiameter of the heat shrink tube 3, thereby providing an abutmentsurface for the axial end side of the heat shrink tube 3. The cable 2abuts in axial direction against the connection portion on which thestrain relief elements are attached. The opposing flange 6 has adiameter equal or smaller than a diameter of the connector 7 being an SCconnector and providing an abutment surface for an axial end side, i.e.a rear side of said connector 7 in axial direction of the connectorizedcable 1.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a threaded member or fixation part 12 forming partof the cable sealing device 10 is adapted to be attachable to theflanges 6 sandwiching the positive locking faces 5. The fixation part 12is formed of a C-shape and comprises at its outer circumference, anexternal thread 24. The inner circumference of the fixation part 12 issubstantially C-shaped and is divided in its axial direction into threesections. An outer circumference of the axial outer sections adopt ashape of an outer circumference of the flanges 6, respectively.Particularly, each outer section has a ring-segment-shaped bottom formedby a radius corresponding to a radius of the associated flange 6 and isadapted to receive the respective flange 6. From the circumferentialends of said ring-segment-shaped bottom, extend each a straight surfaceending at the windings forming the external thread 24. Moreover, themiddle section sandwiched by the outer sections is basically U-shapedand adopts the surface profile of the positive locking face 5. Themiddle section has a width in axial direction of the fixation part 12corresponding to an axial length of the positive locking face 5sandwiched by the flanges 6. Particularly, the legs forming the U-shapeof the middle section protrudes from the inner circumference of thefixation part 12 such, that the axial end surfaces of the middle sectionform abutments surfaces for the axial surfaces of the flanges 6 facingthe positive locking face 5. Hence, by mounting the fixation part 12 onthe attaching part 4, the fixation part 12 is retained in axialdirection of the attaching part 4. Additionally, the legs of the middlesection extending from the bottom toward the opening 20 form each attheir radial outer surface sides a step portion 18 providing therebyfirst securing means. The first securing means 18 are embedded in theopening 20. Particularly, the end faces of the legs directing to aradial outer side of the fixation part 12 and accommodating the firstsecuring means 18 are arranged at a radial inner side of the fixationpart 12 as a bottom of the windings which forms the external thread 24.

FIG. 1B shows the cable sealing device 10 mounted in its disassembledstate on the connectorized cable 1. The cable sealing device 10comprises the fixation part 12, a second member or sealing part 11 and aring part 13 provided between the fixation part 12 and an inner sealring 14. The ring part 13 has longitudinal protrusions 21 projectingfrom an axial end surface directing to the fixation part 12 to bereceived in 35 associated notches 22 formed on an axial end surface sideof the fixation part 12 directing to the ring part 13, respectively (seeFIG. 1A). The ring part 13 further comprises two circumferentialprojections 27 protruding radially from an outer circumferential surfaceof the ring part 13 in opposing directions toward an outside. Saidcircumferential projections 27 cooperate with receptacles 28 provided atrespective positions in an axial end surface at a front side of thesealing part 11. The receptacles 28 are shaped correspondingly to thecircumferential projections 27 to fully receive the circumferentialprojections 5 27 in the assembled state of the cable sealing device 10and to provide a locking between the fixation part 12 and the ring part13 in circumferential direction. The circumferential projections 27provide on its radial surface crush ribs for compensating manufacturingtolerances. The receptacles 28 are opened towards a radial outerdirection to expose the crush ribs of the rectangular protrusions in theassembled state.

FIGS. 1B to 1D show the sealing part 11 which is formed substantially ofa sleeve having a cylindrical shape at one longitudinal end siderelating to the front side, and a rectangular shape at the opposedlongitudinal side, referring to a rear side of the sealing part 11,wherein the front side portion merges with the rear side portion at aflange portion 29. The flange portion 29 has an outer diameter largerthan an outer diameter of the front side portion providing an outersupport portion 17 of the sealing part 11. Said outer support portion 17has a circumferential groove receiving an outer seal ring 15. The outerseal ring 15 slightly protrudes radially from the outer circumferentialsurface of the outer support portion 17 in its received state in orderto come into contact with a sealing section 42; 52; 62 of a cablesealing and retaining device 40; 50; 60 as described further below. Thefront side portion of the sealing part 11 comprises the receptacles 28for receiving the circumferential projections 27 of the ring part 13. Atthe front side between the receptacles 28, second securing means 19protrudes axially in front side direction, i.e. away from the flangeportion 29 and the rear side.

The second securing means 19 is hammer head shaped, wherein the hammerhead projects in circumferential direction the opening 20 defined by thefirst securing means 18. The hammer head has a circumferential widthcorresponding to a circumferential opening width defined incircumferential direction by the end faces of the external thread 24. Asparticularly shown in FIG. 1D, the axial length of the second securingmeans 19 corresponds to an axial length of the fixation part 12. In theassembled state of the cable sealing device 10, the hammer head isfitted in the circumferential opening defined by the external thread 24.Further, an axial end surface of the second securing means 19 forms withan axial end surface of the fixation part 12, a common surface. On aradial inner side of the second securing means 19, which is the sidedirecting to the axis of the cable sealing device 10, ratchets areprovided which engage the step-shaped first securing means 18 of thefixation part 12 in the assembled state of the cable sealing device 10.Thereby, the sealing part 11 is secured to the fixation part 12 in axialdirection. Further, as the second securing means 19 is fitted in theassembled state of the cable sealing device 10 in the circumferentialopening defined by the external thread 24, circumferential end faces ofthe second securing means 19 abut against circumferential end surfacesof the external thread 24, whereby the securing of the sealing part 11in circumferential direction is further improved. Additionally, thefirst securing means 18 (FIG. 1C) and the second securing means 19comprise sliding surfaces formed by tapered edges provided at the sidesof the step-formed first securing means 18 facing the second securingmeans 19 and at the ratchets of the second securing means 19 facing thefirst securing means 18, respectively. Moreover, the second securingmeans 19 has a circumferential extending incision 30 provided at thetransition from the outer support section 17 to the second securingmeans 19 by which the second securing means 19 is improved to beelastically pivotable about incision 30 in radial direction of thesealing part 11. By connection of the sealing part 11 to the fixationpart 12, the second securing means 19 slides with its tapered edges overthe tapered edges of the first securing means 18, wherein the ratchetsof the second securing means 19 engage behind the radial extendingsurface of the step-formed first securing means 18 in the assembledstate of the cable sealing device 10 to axially fix the sealing part 11to the fixation part 12. The second securing means 19 has a furthertapered section formed on the radial inner side at a longitudinal freeend side, whereby the longitudinal free end side provides a handleabletip end 31 to allow manually disassembling of the sealing part 11 fromthe fixation part 12 by lifting the tip end 31 in radial outsidedirection and, thereby, releasing the second securing means 19 from thefirst securing means 18.

The sealing part 11 has a breakage zone formed by an incision 32extending on the circumferential outer surface of the sealing part 11 inlongitudinal direction. The sealing part 11 provides a cavity 33, whichintersects the breakage zone 32 in the area of the outer support portion17. The breakage zone 32 has such a depth that the sealing part 11 canbe released from the connectorized cable 1 by breaking the sealing part11 along the breakage zone 32. The breakage may be conducted e.g. bymeans of a lever insertable into the cavity 33. As shown in FIGS. 1B to2A, the breakage zone 32 extends axially over the whole longitudinallength of the sealing part 11. That is, the breakage zone 32 extendsfrom the flange portion 29 towards the front side until the receptacles28, and from the flange portion 29 towards the rear side of the sealingpart 11 which is basically U-shaped and forming securing formations 35on an outer circumference with a gap 34 provided in elongation of thebreakage zone 32.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a perspective side view of a cable sealing andretaining device 40 according to an embodiment in its disassembled andassembled state with the cable sealing device 10. FIG. 3 shows across-sectional view in longitudinal direction of said cable sealing andretaining device 40 connected to the cable sealing device 10.

The cable sealing and retaining device constitutes a pulling cap 40formed by injection moulding plastic material and providing an opening41 at one longitudinal end side, which denotes the rear side and apulling attachment member 44 at its opposed longitudinal end side, whichconstitutes the front side. The pulling attachment member 44 is providedat the front side of the housing 46 and forms a round-shaped tip end forthe pulling cap 40, wherein a pulling eye formed of a through-hole 45 isprovided transverse to the longitudinal direction of the pulling cap 40.Said pulling attachment member 44 with its pulling eye 45 is providedfor being attachable to a pulling device to pull the pulling cap 40through a duct.

The pulling cap 40 provides a housing 46 of a cylindrical shaped singlebody. The housing 46 is further conical shaped in longitudinal directionof a sleeve portion 47 provided at a rear end side of the housing 46 andforming the opening 41 having the largest diameter. The housing 46 hasflat surface portions 48 on its outer circumference at opposing sides.The flat surface portions 48 of a rectangular shape extend inlongitudinal direction by a predetermined length and in circumferentialdirection by a predetermined width. The flat surface portions 48 provideworking surfaces engageable for instance with engaging surfaces of atool kit like a screw-wrench for supporting fixation of the pulling cap40 with the cable sealing device 10. The housing 46 has a longitudinallength capable of accommodating inside of the housing 46 in anaccommodating section 49 the connector 7 and the parts of the cablesealing device 10 ranging from the fixation part 12 to the flangeportion 29. Particularly, the longitudinal free end surface of thesleeve portion 47 surrounding the opening 41 provides an abutmentsurface for the flange portion 29 in longitudinal direction such thatthe longitudinal surface of the flange portion 29 abuts against theabutment surface of the sleeve portion 47 in the assembled state of thepulling cap 40 with the cable sealing device 10, whereby the securingformations 35 at the rear side of the cable sealing device 10 extendfrom the rear end side of the pulling cap 40 in longitudinal direction.Accordingly, the securing formations 35 can be also used for supportingthe fixation of the pulling cap 40 with the cable sealing device 10 bymeans of a screw-wrench as described above. The sleeve portion 47provides a sealing section 42 arranged adjacent to the opening 41 to besealingly contacted in the assembled state by the outer seal 15 as shownin FIG. 3. Further inside of the housing 46 adjacent to the sealingsection 42, the housing 46 comprises an internal thread 43 cooperatingwith the external thread 24 of the fixation part 12. Particularly, thecable sealing device 10 is screwable into the pulling cap 40 byengagement of the internal thread 43 and the external thread 24.

Alternatively to the thread engagement, a bayonet mount (not shown) maybe provided, wherein a male pin and a female slot may be appropriatelypositioned at the fixation part 12 and the sleeve portion 47,respectively. Exemplary, the internal and external threads 43, 24 may bereplaced with the pin and the slot, respectively, wherein one of thefixation part 12 and the sleeve portion 47 provide the pin and the otherone the slot. The insertion depth of the cable sealing device 10 isdefined by the abutment of the flange portion 29 with the abutmentsurface of the sleeve portion 47 surrounding the opening 41 and/or, forinstance, by the number of windings provided with the internal and/orexternal thread 43, 24, respectively, whereby a predeterminedlongitudinal length of said threads 43, 24 is defined.

With reference to FIG. 3, a configuration of the inner sealing portion16 of the sealing part 11 according to this embodiment will now bedescribed. The sealing part 11 provides a passageway through which thecable 2 covered by the heat shrink tube 3 is guided. The passageway issubstantially divided into a front section and a rear section. The rearsection extends from the rear side of the sealing part 11 towards thefront side until a step provided at a position radially below the outersupport portion 17 is reached, wherein said rear section has an innerdiameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the heat shrink tube3 to allow guiding of the cable 2 with the heat shrink tube 3 providedat the end thereof through said passageway. The front section arrangedin longitudinal direction adjacently to the rear section extends fromthe rear section to the front side of the sealing part 11, i.e. from thestep to a transverse plane containing the circumferential incision 30provided at the transition between the outer support portion 17 and thelongitudinal end of the neck of the hammer-head shaped second securingmeans 19. The front section forms the inner support section 16. Saidinner support section 16 has an inner diameter larger than an innerdiameter of the rear section. The step provided between the rear andfront sections forms a cavity 23 opened to the front side, i.e. to theside facing the fixation part 12, and to the passageway to accommodatethe inner seal ring 14. The inner seal ring 14 is mounted on the heatshrink tube 3 which forms part of the cable 2. Due to the connectionportion of the attaching part 4 extending below the inner seal ring 14,said inner seal ring 14 is further supported by the attaching portion 4.Moreover, the inner seal ring 14 has an outer diameter larger than aninner diameter of the cavity 23. Hence, the inner seal ring 14 applies apressing force in radial directions in a received state in the cavity23, i.e. toward the passageway and toward the sealing part 11. Due tothe dimension of the inner seal ring 14 with respect to the cavity 23,the sealing part 11 is further securable on the cable 2 by the pressureapplied by the inner seal ring 14 in its received state. Moreover,tolerances between the inner seal ring 14 and the cable 2 may becompensated to obtain a reliable sealing therebetween.

In the assembled state of the cable sealing device 10, by which thefixation part 12 and the sealing part 11 are secured to each other, thering part 13 forms an abutment for the inner seal ring 14 at its frontend to prevent a flowing of the inner seal ring 14 material, being amaterial suited for obtaining sealing performance such as rubber, gel,mastic and the like, out of the cavity 23.

A connection of the cable sealing device 10 with the connectorized cable1 can be achieved as follows. At first, the sealing part 11 with theinner seal ring 14 and the ring part 13 are mounted on the cable 2 notprovided with the attaching part 4. Then, the axial end of the cable 2is connected to the attaching part 4 by a common connection method usinga crimp means and a heat shrink tube 3. Subsequent thereto, the fixationpart 12 is mounted on the positive locking faces 5, 6 of the attachingpart 4. Particularly, the fixation part 12 is secured to the positivelocking faces 5, 6 from a radial outer side. The fixation part 12 isthereby retained in circumferential direction and in longitudinaldirection. The ring part 13 is then moved in longitudinal directiontowards the fixation part 12 and secured thereto by inserting thelongitudinal protrusions 21 into the notches 22. Thus, the ring part 13is secured against the fixation part 12 in circumferential direction.Thereafter, the sealing part 11 is secured to the fixation part 12 bymoving the sealing part 11 in longitudinal direction, i.e. in its axialdirection towards the fixation part 12 and connecting the secondsecuring means 19 to the first securing means 18. The sealing part 11 isretained by the fixation part 12 in longitudinal direction by means ofpositive locking formed between the first and second securing means 18,19 in longitudinal direction and in circumferential direction by meansof positive locking formed between the circumferential end surfaces ofthe fixation part 12 and the second securing means 19. Furthermore, thelongitudinal protrusions 21 of the ring part 13 are received by thenotches 22 of the sealing part 11, whereby a positive locking incircumferential direction is achieved between the sealing part 11 andthe ring part 13. Accordingly, the sealing part 11 is secured incircumferential direction by the positive locking formed between thelongitudinal protrusions 21 and the notches 22 and further by the firstand second securing means 18, 19, wherein the fixation part 12 is fixedon the attaching part 4 in circumferential and in longitudinaldirections. Hence, the cable sealing device 10 is secured against theattaching part 4 in circumferential direction and in longitudinaldirection in its assembled state. Moreover, the inner seal ring 14 isretained in the cavity 23 of the sealing part 11 in longitudinaldirection toward the fixation part 12 by the ring part 13. At last, incase of need, the connector 7 is connected to the attaching part 4.However, the connector 7 does not necessarily need to be mounted on theattaching part 4. The connector 7 may be mounted on the attaching part 4at any stage after fixing the attaching part 4 to the cable 2.

The cable sealing device 10 is removable from the connectorized cable 1in a reversed order. Thereby, the sealing part 11 may be removed fromthe connectorized cable 1 by breaking the breakage zone 32 and bybending the opened sealing part 11 so as to be removable from the cable2. Thereby, the connection of the connectorized cable 1 formed betweenthe connector 7, the attaching part 4 and the cable 2 does not need tobe necessarily opened.

FIGS. 4A to 4D show a perspective side view of a cable sealing andretaining device 60 according to another embodiment in a disassembledand assembled state with the cable sealing device 10. The cable sealingand retaining device 60 forms a wall mounting 64 formed integrally witha sleeve portion 67 extending perpendicular from a front side surface ofthe wall mounting 64. The sleeve portion 67 provides a through-holeextending through the wall mounting 64 and forms at one longitudinal endside an opening 61 which receives the cable sealing device 10. Thesleeve portion 67 has a length in longitudinal direction correspondingto a longitudinal length of the outer support portion 17 supporting theouter seal 15. Further, the sleeve portion 67 merges at a rear side ofthe wall mounting 64, which is the side opposing the side from which thesleeve portion 67 extends, with said rear side surface of the wallmounting 64 so as to form a common rear surface.

In an assembled state of the cable sealing and retaining device 60 withthe cable sealing device 10, the fixation part 12 projects with thefixation means 24 from the rear side of the wall mounting 64 to beaccessible from said rear side. The cable sealing and retaining device60 further comprises a fastener or polygonal-shaped lock nut 63 which isscrewed on the fixation part 12 from the rear side of the wall mounting64. Thereby the cable sealing device 10 is fixed to the cable sealingand retaining device 60. Particularly, the securing formations 35projects from the sleeve portion 67 in longitudinal direction thereof atthe front side of the wall mounting 64. The securing formations 35provide two parallel extending outer flat surfaces which can be used asa bolt portion. Accordingly, the fixation of the cable sealing device 10to the cable sealing and retaining device 60 may be conducted and,thereby, further improved by screwing the lock nut 63 onto the fixationpart 12, while holding the securing formations 35 of the sealing part11, i.e. the cable sealing device 10, by means of a screw-wrench.

FIGS. 5A to 5E show a perspective side view of a cable sealing andretaining device 50 according to a further embodiment. FIG. 6 shows across-sectional view of the cable sealing and retaining device 50. FIGS.7A to 7C show a perspective side view of the fixation part 12 of thecable sealing device 10 provided with the cable sealing and retainingdevice 50 in a pre-installed manner on the cable 2 without and with thesealing part 12 receiving the ring part 13. The cable sealing deviceshown in FIGS. 7A to 7C differs substantially from the cable sealingdevice 10 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D by a specific configuration of thefixation part 12 and an outer shape of the sealing part 11. Accordingly,the specific shape of the fixation part 12 and of the sealing part 11dealt with in the following description of the cable sealing andretaining device 50 is to be regarded in combination with thedescription made in view of FIGS. 1A to 1D, wherein similar orcorresponding parts providing an equivalent function are identified withsimilar reference signs.

The cable sealing and retaining device 50 comprises a sleeve-shapedhousing 53 having two openings 51 at its longitudinal end sides, whereinthe housing 53 is adapted to accommodate two cable sealing devices 10,which are each mounted on a connectorized cable 1, and wherein theconnectors 7 of the connectorized cables 1 are connected to each othervia an adapter 70 inside the housing 53. The connectors 7 are formed ofmale connectors, wherein the adapter 70 provides female connectors atits longitudinal end sides receiving the male connectors 7,respectively. As shown in FIG. 7C, the cable sealing device 10 has aflange portion 29 with an outer diameter corresponding to an outerdiameter of the outer support portion 17 provided for receiving theouter seal ring 15. The cable sealing device 10 may be alternativelycombined with the cable sealing device 10 having the flange portion 29with a larger outer diameter than the outer support portion 17 (see FIG.1D).

The cable sealing and retaining device 50 further comprises a tensionsupport part 56 formed of a half shell and adapted to receive theconnection formed between the connectors 7 and the adapter 70.Particularly, the tension support part 56 comprises three sections, twolongitudinal end support sections for receiving the connector partexposed between a longitudinal end side of the cable sealing device 10and an opposed longitudinal end side of the adapter 70. Between said twolongitudinal end support sections, the tension support part 56 comprisesa middle section provided for supporting the adapter 70. As particularlyshown in FIG. 6, the longitudinal end support sections support theexposed part of the connector 7 and the adapter 70, wherein the supportsections, supporting the exposed part of the connector 7, merge towardsthe middle section by a step portion, thereby providing longitudinalabutment surfaces for the part of the adapter 70 protruding radiallyfrom an outer circumferential surface of the connector 7 to an outsidethereof.

FIG. 5C shows an exploded perspective side view of the cable sealingdevice 10 connected to the tension support part 56. Particularly and asfurther shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the fixation part 12 has at itslongitudinal free end side a protrusion 26 providing a slot extending ina straight direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and whichengages an associated key 57 formed by a radial inward projecting flangeprovided at the longitudinal free end side of the tension support part56. In this context, instead of the fixation part 12, the attaching part4, even though not shown in the Figures, may be provided with saidprotrusion 26 at its longitudinal end surface side directing away fromthe fixation part 12. In this case, the protrusion 26 may be formed inan area accessible from an outer side and being exposed between a sidesurface of the connector 7 and the longitudinal end surface of thefixation part 12. Accordingly, the following description of theprotrusion 26, the formation thereof at the fixation part 12 and the wayof connection to the tension support part 56 may also be transferable,respectively, to a configuration in which the attaching part 4 providesthe protrusion 26. Particularly, the fixation part 12 is connected tothe tension support part 56 by a key-and-slot configuration providing apositive locking in longitudinal direction of the tension support part56. Moreover, the tension support part 56 has a support wall 59 arrangedon a radial inner side of the tension support part 56 and forming a gapwith the key-forming flange for receiving a longitudinal free endsection of the protrusion 26. Said longitudinal free end section formsalso a flange projecting radially outward of the fixation part 12. In anassembled state of the tension support part 56 with the protrusion 26,the support wall 59 is inserted in a space formed at a radial inner sideof the protrusion 26, i.e. in a space formed between the radial innerside of the protrusion 26 and a radial outer side of the connector 7.Thereby, the protrusion 26 is supported in radial direction. In case,the attaching part 4 has the protrusion 26, the tension support part 56may be formed without the support wall 59.

Due to the provision of the tension support part 56, a tension forcecaused e.g. by a pulling force acting on the cables 2 in longitudinaldirection and normally transmitted to the connection formed by theconnectors 7 and the adapter 70, can be bypassed via the fixation part12 (attaching part 4) to the tension support part 56 from one cablesealing device 10 side to the other one without affecting the connectionformed therebetween. In other words, the tension force acting on thecables in longitudinal direction will not be further transmitted to theconnection formed between the fixation parts 12 (attaching parts 4).Thus, the pulling force will bypass the connection and the same isreliably retained by means of the tension support part 56 secured at itslongitudinal end sides to the fixation parts 12 (attaching parts 4).Moreover, a twist between the cable sealing devices 10, i.e. a turningmoment on the connection formed between the connectors 7 is alsoprevented, since a circumferential move of one cable sealing device 10will cause always a circumferential move of the other cable sealingdevice 10 without transmitting the turning moment to the connectionbetween the fixation parts 12 (attaching parts 4) due to the connectionof the tension support part 56 to the fixation parts 12 (attaching parts4), respectively.

FIG. 5E shows in particular the housing 53 which has at eachlongitudinal end side, two elongations 58 forming wall projectionsextending in parallel from the opening 51 in longitudinal direction andforming a recess portion 54 therebetween, which run transverse to thelongitudinal direction of the housing 53. The housing 53 has alongitudinal length sufficient to accommodate the cable sealing devices10 and the connection formed therebetween, wherein the securingformations 35 of the sealing part 11 project the opening 51 inlongitudinal direction of the housing 53 between the recess portion 54.The recess portion 54 receives a clip element 55. The clip element 55 issubstantially U-shaped and is moved over the securing formation 35 ofthe cable sealing device 10 to be clamped thereon. The clip element 55has at longitudinal free end sides of its legs, engaging pawls forengaging behind end sides of the securing formation 35 to radially fixthe clip element 55 to the securing formations 35. Since each recessportion 54 receives a clip element 55, the cable sealing and retainingdevice 50 and the cable sealing devices 10 are secured to each other inlongitudinal and in circumferential direction thereof.

An assembling of the cable sealing and retaining device 50 to the cablesealing devices 10 may be performed as follows, for instance. Aftermounting the cable sealing devices 10 on the connectorized cables 1 in amanner as described above, the housing 53 is moved over one cablesealing and retaining device 10. Then, the connectors 7 are connected tothe adapter 70. Thereafter, the tension support part 56 is secured tothe protrusion 26 by the key-and-slot configuration as described above.Subsequent thereto, the housing 53 is moved over the connection formedbetween the cable sealing devices 10 until both outer seals 15 contactthe sealing sections 52 of the housing 53, respectively. Then, the clipelements 55 are fixed to the securing formations 35 of the cable sealingdevices 10 from a radial outer side to secure the housing 53 extendingover both cable sealing devices 10. Thereby, the connection formedbetween the cable sealing devices 10 is accommodated inside the housing53 and sealed by the cable sealing devices 10 inserted into thelongitudinal end sides of the housing 53. Further, due to the clipelements 55, the housing 53 is secured in longitudinal and incircumferential direction to the cable sealing devices 10.

The cable sealing and retaining device 50 can be disassembled byremoving the clip elements 55 and moving the housing 53 from the cablesealing devices 10. The cable sealing devices 10 can be removed from theconnectorized cables 1 by releasing the sealing part 11 from thefixation part 12, removing radially the fixation part 12 from theattaching part 4 and breaking the breakage zone 32 of the sealing part11 to radially remove said sealing part 11 from the connectorized cable1.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective side view of a cable connection between twocable sealing devices 100 according to a further embodiment usable forthe cable sealing and retaining device 50 as described above. The cablesealing device 100 differs substantially from the above-described cablesealing device 10 by an outer shape of the fixation part 102 and of thesealing part 101. Accordingly, only said specific outer shape will bedealt with in the following, wherein further shapes of the fixation part102 and of the sealing part 101 relate to shapes of the fixation part 12and the sealing part 11 described above along with the cable sealingdevice 10, wherein similar reference signs refer to similar parts andportions, respectively. The fixation part 102 provides an interstice 103extending in circumferential direction for receiving the key-formingflange of the tension support part 56 from a radial outer side to formthe key-and-slot-connection between the tension support part 56 and thefixation part 102. Particularly, the interstice 103 provides at itslongitudinal end sides an abutment for the longitudinal surfaces of thekey-forming flange of the tension support part 56. Thereby, the positivelocking in longitudinal direction between the fixation part 102 and thetension support 56 is achieved. Even though the fixation part 102 isshown of a ring shape, the fixation part 102 can adopt any shapesuitable for providing the interstice 103. Accordingly, the fixationpart 102 may be formed of a C-shaped and connected to the sealing part102 as described above. Furthermore, the fixation part 102 may be formedof two parts mounted on the attaching part from a radial outer side andconnected to each other by latching means, for instance. The sealingpart 101 provides an outer shape adapted to the outer shape of thefixation part 102 in order to allow securing therebetween at least inone longitudinal direction side, for instance, by abutment. As shown inFIG. 8, the sealing part 101 has a conical portion 104 between thefixation part 102 and the outer seal 15, wherein an outer diameter ofthe conical portion 104 decreases in longitudinal direction from theouter support portion of the sealing part 101, which supports the outerseal 15, until the fixation part 102 is reached. According thereto, thesealing part 101 provides a continuous crossing between an outer surfaceof the fixation part 102 and an outer surface of the outer supportportion supporting the outer seal 15. Thus, the housing 53 can be movedin longitudinal direction over the fixation part 102 and the sealingpart 101 until the outer seal 15 contacts the sealing section 52provided inside the housing 53 without getting stuck.

As further shown in FIG. 8, the half-shell shaped tension support part56 provides abutment portions 105 for abutting against outer sides ofthe connector 7 in the mounted state of the tension support part 56. Theabutment portions 105 projects an inner surface of the tension supportpart 56 towards the connector 7 side, i.e. towards the longitudinal axisof the tension support part 56. The tension support part 56 provides theabutment portions 105 at opposing sides of each connector 7 received bythe tension support part 56. Accordingly, the tension support part 56abuts in circumferential direction against each side of the connector 7,which is covered by the tension support part 56. In other words, thetension support part 56 is adapted to receive the connector 7 in afitted manner Additionally, the abutment portion 105 provides abutmentsurfaces in longitudinal direction to further improve a positive lockingin said direction.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective side view of a cable sealing and retainingdevice 80 according to a further embodiment provided with two cablesealing devices 100. Same reference signs relate to correspondingportions and parts described above. The cable sealing and retainingdevice 80 comprises two cable sealing devices 100, each comprising afixation part 112 which differs from the above-described fixation part102 by omission of the interstice 103. the interstice 103 is formedbetween longitudinal end sides of an adapter 71 which extends betweenthe fixation parts 112 of the cable sealing devices 100 and acorresponding longitudinal end side of the fixation part 112.Particularly, the cable connection provided between the longitudinal endsides of the cable sealing devices 100 and radially supported by thetension support part 56 is covered by the adapter 71 having alongitudinal length smaller than a longitudinal distance formed betweenfacing longitudinal end sides of the fixation parts 102. The adapter 71provides a longitudinal length corresponding to a longitudinal distancebetween opposing inside surfaces of the key-forming flanges providedwith the tension support part 56. Accordingly, the adapter 71 fits intothe tension support part 56 between the key-forming flanges formed atlongitudinal end sides of the tension support part 56. As the tensionsupport part 56 has a longitudinal length corresponding to alongitudinal distance formed between facing longitudinal end sides ofthe fixation part 112, the interstice 103 with a longitudinal widthadapted to receive the key-forming flange from the radial outer side isformed between the longitudinal end side of the adapter 71 and thefacing longitudinal end side of the respective fixation part 112.

The cable sealing and retaining device 80 comprises a housing formed byidentical shaped housing halves 81 connectable to the cable sealingdevices 100 form a radial outer side. Each housing half 81 provides atits longitudinal end sides support sections for radially supporting theheat shrink tube 3 and the rear end side of the sealing part 101providing the securing formations 35. Thus, the support sections has aninner surface profile matching an outer surface profile of the heatshrink tube 3 and of the rear end portion of the sealing part 101comprising the securing formations 35. The housing halves 81 areconnected to each other by a pin-hole-connection provided at thelongitudinal end sides adjacent to the support sections. Particularly,each longitudinal end side of the housing half 81 provides pins 82 andpin-receiving holes 83 adjacent to the support sections in a radialoutward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housinghalf 81. The pins 82 have an outer shape adapted to press-fit intoassociated pin-receiving holes 83 to secure the two housing halves 81against each other.

FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of a connection of the cable sealingdevice 10 to a cable 200. Same reference signs refer to similar parts asdescribed above. The cable sealing device 10 is particularly mounted onthe cable 200 guiding a signal transmitting element 201 and joint to aconnection portion of the attaching part at least by means of a heatshrink tube 300, wherein the cable 200 does not be provided with aconnector at a longitudinal free end side portion projecting from thefixation part 12. The longitudinal free end side portion of theattaching part provides a connection end 202 by which the cable 200 maybe further operated. However, the present invention is not to beconstrued as to be limited thereto. The attaching part may be generallyprovided with or without such a connection end and/or with or withoutthe protrusion 26 as described above. Accordingly, the attaching partdiffers from the attaching part shown particularly in FIGS. 1A to 1D byomission of the connector. Hence, the connector does not form anecessary part for mounting the cable sealing device 10 on the cable 2.The cable sealing device 10 may be mountable on any kind of cables inorder to retain and/or seal the cable guidable therethrough.

In view of the above, the present invention has been described withreference to specific preferred embodiments. However, a combination ofone or more parts as described along with one preferred embodiment withone or more parts as described along with another described preferredembodiment is also feasible.

REFERENCE LIST

-   1 connectorized cable-   2, 200 cable-   3, 300 heat shrink tube-   4 attaching part-   5, 6 positive locking face-   7 connector-   10, 100 cable sealing device-   11, 101 sealing part-   12, 102, 112 fixation part-   13 ring part-   14 inner seal ring-   15 outer seal ring-   16 inner support portion-   17 outer support portion-   18 first securing means-   19 second securing means-   20 opening-   21 longitudinal protrusion-   22 notch-   23, 33 cavity-   24 external thread-   26 protrusion-   27 ring part-   28 receptacle-   29 flange portion-   30 circumferential incision-   31 tip end-   32 breakage zone-   34 gap-   35 securing formations-   40, 50, 60, 80 cable sealing and retaining device-   41, 51, 61 opening-   42, 52, 62 sealing section-   43 internal thread engagement-   44 pulling attachment member-   45 through hole-   46, 53 housing-   47, 67 sleeve portion-   48 flat surface portion-   49 accommodating section-   54 recess portion-   55 clip element-   56 tension support part-   57 slot-   58 elongation-   59 support wall-   63 lock nut-   64 wall mounting-   70, 71 adapter-   81 housing half-   82 pin-   83 pin-receiving hole-   103 interstice-   104 conical portion-   105 abutment portion-   201 signal transmitting element-   202 connection end

1. A cable sealing and retaining device comprising: an adapter defininga first and second ports facing in opposite directions; a firstconnector arrangement terminating a first optical fiber, the firstconnector arrangement including a first connector and a first fixationpart, the first connector being configured to be received at the firstport while the first fixation part remains external of the adapter; asecond connector arrangement terminating a second optical fiber, thesecond connector arrangement including a second connector and a secondfixation part, the second connector being configured to be received atthe second port while the second fixation part remains external of theadapter; and a tension support part that extends between a first end anda second end, the first end being configured to axially secure to thefirst fixation part, the second end being configured to axially secureto the second fixation part, whereby the tension support part holds thefirst and second connectors at the adapter to form a connectionassembly.
 2. The cable sealing and retaining device of claim 1, furthercomprising a closure defining an interior, wherein the adapter and thetension support part are disposed within the interior of the closure. 3.The cable sealing and retaining device of claim 2, wherein the adapterand tension support part float within the closure.
 4. The cable sealingand retaining device of claim 2, wherein the first and second connectorarrangements are disposed within the closure.
 5. The cable sealing andretaining device of claim 4, wherein the first and second connectorarrangements each carrying an inner gasket that seals to a cable aroundthe respective fiber and an outer gasket that seals to the closure. 6.The cable sealing and retaining device of claim 5, wherein the inner andouter gaskets are disposed external of the adapter when the first andsecond connector arrangements are received at the first and secondports.
 7. The cable sealing and retaining device of claim 2, wherein theclosure is axially locked to the connection assembly.
 8. The cablesealing and retaining device of claim 7, wherein the connection assemblyis sealed within the closure.
 9. The cable sealing and retaining deviceof claim 7, wherein closure is axially locked to the connection assemblyby an external member.
 10. The cable sealing and retaining device ofclaim 7, wherein closure is axially locked to the connection assembly byinteraction between the closure and a securing formation of each of thefirst and second connector arrangements.
 11. The cable sealing andretaining device of claim 1, wherein the tension support part extendscircumferentially around only a portion of the adapter.
 12. The cablesealing and retaining device of claim 11, wherein the tension supportpart has a half-shell shape.
 13. The cable sealing and retaining deviceof claim 1, wherein the first and second fixation parts are eachlaterally mounted over a respective attaching part, each attaching partfixing a respective cable to the respective connector.
 14. The cablesealing and retaining device of claim 13, wherein each attaching partdefines a plurality of flat landings disposed about a circumference ofthe respective connector arrangement.
 15. The cable sealing andretaining device of claim 1, wherein the tension support part includes amiddle support section configured to support the adapter.
 16. The cablesealing and retaining device of claim 1, wherein the first and secondconnector arrangements each carrying an inner gasket that seals to acable around the respective fiber.
 17. The cable sealing and retainingdevice of claim 16, wherein the first and second connector arrangementseach carrying an outer gasket.
 18. The cable sealing and retainingdevice of claim 17, wherein the inner and outer gaskets are disposedexternal of the adapter when the first and second connector arrangementsare received at the first and second ports.
 19. The cable sealing andretaining device of claim 16, wherein each inner gasket is disposed on asealing member that selectively couples to the respective fixationspart.
 20. The cable sealing and retaining device of claim 19, whereineach sealing member is axially fixed relative to the respective fixationpart when coupled to the fixation part.